Disclaimer: We don't own the Ducks and probably never will because they belong to Disney. However, Emaliar Malfoy does own Bella, Emily, Alex, and Johnson. Bobcatwriter owns Annie, Mike, Travon, and all the characters at Lakeshore Academy.
A/N: This is the sequel to the other Mighty Ducks stories "The Way Things Are" and "The Way Things Were". We recommend you read those two first. However, this can also be read as a stand-alone story. Please read and review.
Chapter 8
March 7th, 1998 2:30 pm
Bella's POV
I had returned to Minnesota, yesterday afternoon. Casey picked me up from the airport and took me to St. Paul Civic Center. When I got there Charlie apologized profusely again for what he said. I knew that I couldn't stay mad at him for much longer, so I forgave him and wished him good luck before the game against the Rochester Lourdes. Because the rosters were required to be submitted 20 hours before the game, I was not allowed to play. But since I was back now, Coach Orion would put me on the roster for today's game against the Virginia High School Blue Devils.
I was sitting in the locker room, right in front of my locker. We all were. All my gear was on, there was a bar on my jersey. I had turned it over and I was fingering the number on the back.
63- I. Banks
It felt weird, I had never been so nervous. In a way there seemed to be more pressure here than in any other game we had ever played. What felt the worse is that I knew Ads wouldn't be watching. That was the one constant in my life before this. Having my family watching me play. Dad was always there, for big games like this. He would always critique my performance. Mom would even come along and Ollie well he'd make fun of everything that I did wrong afterwards at least that was what he did while he was here in America. He has never not once seen one of my high school games, until today at least. Then he was flying back to France tomorrow. I looked forward to hearing what he thought that I did wrong.
It was always me and Adam on the ice. The Golden Duo on the Hawks. The ABC line up at the Goodwill Games. Third line together last year on Varsity.
Not anymore.
I shouldn't really be worried. I just coached the Hawks to their 1st playoff berth since I played for the Ducks. The peewee playoff's where next weekend. I had one of the parents take over the Hawks practices for me while I was in California dealing with Adam and here for the game today.
Maybe it wasn't nerves, maybe it was just because it was new. My current scenario.
[Flashback October 29th, 1996]
"Listen," Charlie started. "You guys had an unfair advantage last time. You had some of us, the Banks twins."
"You can keep Banksie, he never had the heart of a warrior anyway,' Riley drawled. 'Ace, however," he said grabbing my wrist and pulling me over. "Well, we're keeping her. We won her fair and square."
The Ducks looked fit to explode.
"I am not a prize to be won!" I exclaimed.
…
November 4th, 1996
"Hey Dad," I said while I was walking into the study.
We sat in silence for a few moments.
"You lost. YOU LOST TO A TEAM OF FRESHMEN! DO YOU THINK I LET YOU GO TO THAT SCHOOL JUST SO YOU COULD PLAY AROUND? THIS IS SERIOUS ISABELLA LILLIAN. HOW COULD YOU WEAR THAT NUMBER AND PERFORM SO POORLY?" he asked gesturing to his framed North Stars jersey. 63, same as me.
"I'm sorry," I said with tears coming down my face. He saw the video tape. I don't know how he got his hands on a copy of the tape.
"YOU SHOULD BE!" He yelled.
[end of flashbacks]
That's where I struggled. I had been taught to showboat, to play for myself. Occasionally Coach Reilly would tell us to put on a show for the spectators. To win always of course but give them a show as well.
That was one of the first things Bombay had told us when we came to the Ducks; "Play for the name on the front and the people will start to remember the name on the back." That was something I tried to install in my boys on the Hawks this year. It's more important to have fun and play for the name Hawks and the people will remember your name. Which was tough to erase the system that was put in place by Coach Reilly. But I think that they kind of got it.
…
"Alright team gather round," Coach Orion said. "Everyone in this room has had a hard year," he said. I could see people's eyes flit to me, Gunnar, and Charlie. "We deserve this more than anything right now, Captain?"
"Alright Ducks, you know what to do. Ace is center, Gunnar right wing and I'm left, Portman, Fulton defense and Scooter is in goal. C'mon let's go win ourselves a state championship," Charlie said.
For some reason Charlie, Gunnar, Portman, Fulton, and I were on the top line. It had been that way since December, when the 1st line was dropped to 2nd line and 2nd line was dropped to 3rd line, Thus the old 3rd line became the new 4th line, and we were brought up to the 1st line. Truly I felt that we were the worst of the top three lines, but that was Orion's decision.
We trudged out of the locker room and onto the ice. I saw the rest of the Ducks who hadn't made Varsity sitting in the stands. At least one of them wouldn't be playing with us next year, my money was on Goldberg. They had won their championship the week before, on the same day that the Varsity punched a ticket to state. To celebrate, the Varsity had treated the JV to dinner last Sunday and Yes, the Varsity paid the bill.
As I was warming up, I spotted mom, dad, and Ollie in the crowd. Ollie gave me a wink, mom smiled, and dad gave me a thumbs up and then he continued talking to what appeared to be a college scout.
I was only fifteen. I shouldn't have to think about that yet.
Adams POV:
Today is the state Championship. I should be out on the ice with the team today. Instead I am stuck in a stupid hospital bed. I had begun to rehab well, again. Was getting the hang of the scooter. I didn't know how we were going to get me up and down the steps for class once I got back to Lakeshore. But I guess it will get all figured out. I was to be released from the hospital on Monday and then my 10 weeks of house arrest would begin. Which meant that I would not get off restriction until May 18th and hopefully I would be pulled out of the boot by May 25th.
"Hey Adam, how are you feeling this afternoon?" Asked Erin my physical therapist. She was what Charlie would call a 11 out of 10 in good looking. In fact, if I weren't gay, I would date her.
"Lousy. Here to pick on me again?" I asked.
"Nope come on in Tommy," Erin said.
Tommy was Erin's fiancé, and he came in with what looked like a thin machine.
"What's this?" I asked.
"It's a laptop, Tommy said that you could listen to your sister's hockey game over the internet," Erin said.
"What? I asked.
"It's her state championship, today right?" Erin asked.
"Yeah, I think the game starts in like half an hour or so," I said.
"Then I will set it up," Tommy said.
By the time the computer was set up and tuned into Eden Halls webpage, the game was just about to get started.
"Good Afternoon, Hockey fans. Boy do we have a good game for you today as the Eden Hall Ducks take on the Virginia Blue Devils in the Class AA match for the State championship…." Josh said over the radio and I smiled. I got to hear my sister's hockey game.
March 8th, 1998
The next day I was on the phone to Bella, Gunnar, and Charlie. One of the last few days that I had total freedom. Well some total freedom.
"Adam did you listen to the game? Did Josh call it well? How do you think we did? I was so nervous-" Bella said.
"How was my goal in the third period?" Charlie asked, cutting her off.
"Vhat about mine in vhe second?" Gunnar asked.
"Hey no, no, no. Goal of the game was definitely mine with a minute to go…" Bella said.
I chuckled before I said "You all played well. Congratulations."
"Hey congrats to you too," Charlie said.
"What do you mean? I was taken off the team roster?" I said.
"Vell because, vou vere vhere for us in vhe beginning," Gunnar said.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Bella should tell you," Charlie said.
"Tell me what?" I asked.
"Well alright, we are going to have a medal made for you that is exactly like ours is. We found out who does that and tomorrow we are going down to their shop and getting one made for you," Bella said.
"And hopefully if everything pans out between Mom and Fred's work and they get their vacation together, we are going to come out to visit you in July," Charlie said.
"Even you Gunnar?" I asked.
"I vope so. I vave vo get Mama and Pabbi to say yes in letting me stay in Ameríka," Gunnar said.
"Cool," I said.
"Alright we got to get going we are going to meet up with the other ducks and play some street hockey before Goldberg and Gunnar have to catch a plane to Philadelphia for spring break. Bye Ads," Bella said in her usual cheery demeanor.
"Wait, can I talk to Gunnar for a sec?" I asked.
"Sure. Bye Banksie," Charlie said.
I heard them exit the room.
"Vhat's up?" Gunnar asked.
"I think you've been spending too much time with Charlie," I said chuckling.
"I vake offence vo vhat. Vhat's vhy I am going vo Philadelphia vith Goldberg. Vhat and I vave alvays vanted vo see vhy it's so special," Gunnar said.
"I know, I miss you," I said.
"I miss vou, too. Vou be good for me," Gunnar said.
"I will try it's not going to be easy with 10 weeks of house arrest," I said.
"I know, vut just vut vour head down and get vhough it," Gunnar said.
I chuckled before I said, "I will."
"I vove vou," Gunnar said.
"I love you, too. Hey, send me a post card from Philly. I will send you a letter soon," I said.
"Ok, I vot vo go," Gunnar said.
"Okay, I love you. Bye," I said.
"Me voo. Bye," Gunnar said.
And with that we hung up and then I hung my head and cried.
A/N: We hope you like it. What will happen next? Please leave a review.